Victorino gets paid; where do Phillies go now?

Former Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino is the latest to win a spot in the “let’s-overpay-an-outfielder” sweepstakes the league is having this offseason, reportedly signing for three years and $39 million with the Red Sox on Tuesday.

Victorino joins Angel Pagan (four years, $40 million in San Francisco) and B.J. Upton (five years, $75.2 million in Atlanta) as free agents outfielders to get paid in the last week. It also shrinks the Phillies’ outfield options even further, as Victorino was seen as a backup if they make a splash.

That leaves Michael Bourn and Josh Hamilton as the biggest names left on the free agent outfield market. I made my feelings about those two known in today’s paper.

Victorino’s deal, however, could open up some more options for the Phillies, especially among corner outfielders. Cody Ross and Nick Swisher were both seen as potential signees in Boston.

Now, they don’t fit.

So watch for the Phillies to possibly target either to fill a corner outfield spot. And, with a likely landing spot off the board for both, their price could come down.